Blackburn with Darwen

Blackburn with Darwen's population grew between the last two censuses. At the same time there were changes in ethnicity, religion and housing tenure.

The population reached nearly 150,000

In the decade leading up to the most recent census, the population of Blackburn with Darwen increased by 7.3%, from about 137,000 to 147,000.

The addition of just over 10,000 people means this area's population increased at a similar rate to the overall population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Blackburn with Darwen was home to, on average, 7.7 people per football pitch-sized piece of land (about 7,140 square metres).

Population density was higher than the average across the North West

Population density (usual residents per 7,140 square metres) across the North West, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

Changes in family structure

This area saw the North West's third-largest rise in the proportion of households with adult children living with their parents.

Across the region, only Knowsley (from 13% to 14%) and Sefton (from 12% to 13%) saw a greater increase in the proportion of households with adult children living with their parents.

During this period, Blackburn with Darwen went from having the 34th-highest to the 16th-lowest percentage of households with only adult children living with their parents out of 309 English local authority areas.

In 2011, just over 1 in 10 (10%) households in Blackburn with Darwen had only adult children living with their parents, compared with 9.1% in 2001. The percentage with at least one child decreased from 36% to 35%.

The proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents was lower than across the North West

Percentage of households that where a parent lived with their adult children across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

Ethnicity in Blackburn with Darwen

The number of people in Blackburn with Darwen from the White ethnic groups increased from just under 110,000 in 2001 to about 100,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 78% to 69% of the local population.

The percentage decreased by more than the average across the North West (from 94% to 90%) and the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in Blackburn with Darwen from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from just under 29,000 in 2001 to just over 41,000 in 2011 (from 21% to 28%). The number of residents from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from just under 1,300 to just over 1,800 (from 0.9% to 1.2%).

Just over 1,200 people (0.1%) said they were from the Other ethnic groups (Arab or any other ethnic group), up from about 180 in 2001 (0.8%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the ethnic profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between ethnic groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population from the White ethnic groups in Blackburn with Darwen decreased by 8.8 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Blackburn with Darwen by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Blackburn with Darwen

The number of people in Blackburn with Darwen that described themselves as having no religion increased from just under 11,000 in 2001 to about 20,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 8.0% to 14% of the local population.

The percentage increased by less than the average across the North West (from 10% to 20%) and the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Blackburn with Darwen that described themselves as Christian decreased from about 87,000 in 2001 to just under 78,000 in 2011 (from 63% to 53%). The number of people who described themselves as Muslim increased from about 27,000 to about 40,000 (from 19% to 27%).

Just over 8,300 people (8.6%) did not state their religion, down from about 12,000 in 2001 (5.6%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between religious groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population without a religion in Blackburn with Darwen increased by 5.8 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Blackburn with Darwen by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Blackburn with Darwen that rented privately increased from 8.0% to 16% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just over one in six (18%) households lived in social housing, compared with 19% in 2001. The percentage of Blackburn with Darwen households that owner their home decreased from 70% to 64%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 8.5% in 2001 to 15% in 2011). Across England, the proportion increased from 9.9% to 17%.

Private renting in Blackburn with Darwen increased by 7.7 percentage points

Percentage of households in Blackburn with Darwen, the North West and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Blackburn with Darwen residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 11% to 7.3% between the last two censuses.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 8 in 10 (79%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 67% in 2001. The percentage of Blackburn with Darwen residents that described their health as fair decreased from 22% to 14%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 11% in 2001 to 6.8% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Blackburn with Darwen decreased by 3.8 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Blackburn with Darwen, the North West and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

↑ Back to the top

Area report data

Related links